Athletes

Researchers are creating a database of psychophysiological data collected from athletes during maximal effort tests. This study aims to better understand the relationship between exercise intensity and both objective measures like heart rate and subjective measures such as perceived exertion. The goal is to improve how maximal effort tests are conducted and to offer more personalized training recommendations. Participants will perform a maximal effort test on a treadmill, with researchers gathering data such as ergospirometry, blood samples, and ratings of perceived exertion. This study involves a single group undergoing these tests to build a comprehensive physiological database. During the study, participants will be monitored through various assessments including exercise capacity tests lasting up to one hour, blood sampling, and questionnaires about their perceived effort. These measures will help researchers analyze endurance and exercise intensity, with the study lasting until 2040. Participants' health and performance data will be carefully recorded and analyzed to support personalized training advice.

Researchers are investigating how different training methods—plyometric training, functional training, and whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS)—affect athletic performance and health in university basketball and volleyball players. This randomized crossover study aims to determine which training type best improves power, speed, agility, and overall health, while also assessing injury risk reduction and psychological well-being. The study involves 120 male and female athletes aged 18 to 30 with competitive experience. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups that receive different sequences of training: plyometric followed by WB-EMS, functional followed by plyometric, WB-EMS followed by functional, or a control group maintaining their usual training. Each intervention period lasts 8 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout phase. Training sessions include warm-ups, specific exercises tailored to each modality, and cool-downs. WB-EMS sessions use the miha bodytec® device to stimulate muscles during dynamic exercises, performed twice weekly for 20-25 minutes. Throughout the study, participants will undergo various assessments at baseline, after each intervention period, and during follow-up. These include physical fitness tests like jump and sprint tests, balance and movement screenings, and questionnaires on sleep quality, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and emotion regulation. Researchers will monitor changes in athletic performance and health over the 20-week intervention timeline to evaluate the effects of each training method.

Researchers are evaluating whether brief sounds or tones played during a limited recovery sleep period after 40 hours of sleep deprivation can enhance the restorative effects of sleep and improve performance during the following awake period. This study involves healthy adults aged 18 to 39 and aims to understand how acoustic stimulation during slow-wave sleep affects alertness and cognitive functions. Participants will experience two nights of approximately four-hour recovery sleep after sleep deprivation. During these recovery sleeps, one group will receive acoustic stimulation via the Philips SmartSleep device during slow-wave sleep, while the other group will receive sham treatment without acoustic stimulation. The device is applied prior to bedtime on both recovery nights to deliver or withhold the acoustic signals. Throughout the study, participants' performance and alertness will be assessed using various tests including the Psychomotor Vigilance Task, mathematical processing tests, mood scales, and sleepiness scales over several days. Sleep and wakefulness will also be monitored via polysomnographic recordings and actigraphy. The study includes safety monitoring and adherence checks, with total participation spanning multiple days to capture effects during and after sleep deprivation and recovery.

Researchers are studying different warm-up methods in young competitive swimmers to see how they affect athletic performance. The focus is on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE), a technique thought to improve performance after short bursts of intense activity. The study compares three warm-up protocols added to the swimmers' usual routine, measuring their impact on jump height and swim times over various distances. The study involves four groups: one doing squats with elastic bands, one performing drop jumps from a box, one combining both exercises, and a control group that follows no special warm-up. Each exercise protocol has specific sets, repetitions, and recovery times to evaluate their effects. The squats use different resistance bands, while the drop jumps use a 45 cm box for plyometric training. Participants will undergo baseline assessments before warm-ups and repeated tests immediately after and up to 12 minutes later. Measurements include countermovement jump height, swim times, skin temperature, heart rate, muscle oxygen levels, and perceived exertion. The study uses a randomized design and statistical analysis to compare results, aiming to identify the most effective warm-up for young swimmers. The study will run from December 2025 to February 2026.

This research aims to study the immediate effects of foam rolling and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on muscle flexibility, strength, and pain threshold in amateur athletes. The hamstring muscle plays an important role in rehabilitation and sports activities by helping restore proper muscle length. Reduced hamstring flexibility can affect the waist and pelvis biomechanics, potentially causing low back pain or musculoskeletal issues. The study addresses gaps in current knowledge by comparing foam rolling and PNF stretching as warm-up exercises. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two training programs: foam rolling or PNF stretching. The foam rolling group will perform 5 minutes of light aerobic cycling followed by 2 minutes of foam rolling on the dominant leg. The PNF stretching group will also do 5 minutes of cycling and then 2 minutes of PNF stretching exercises on the dominant leg. These interventions aim to measure differences in muscle flexibility, strength, and pain threshold immediately after warm-up. During the study, hamstring flexibility, muscle strength, and pain threshold will be evaluated before and immediately after the intervention. Additional assessments include lower extremity muscle strength. The trial includes adults aged 18 to 30 who are amateur athletes. The study uses a randomized, double-blind design to compare the effects of these two warm-up techniques on muscle performance and pain sensitivity.

The overall objective of this study is to investigate various physical and mental health needs of collegiate athletes and how they differ in and out of sport. Researchers aim to identify facets of support that athletes may need when transitioning out of sport. To achieve this objective, the study is broken down into two specific parts: 1) an online, anonymous survey assessing 200 athletes to evaluate support needed both during and post sport, quantitatively; and 2) focus groups with 50 athletes who are about to retire or have retired from sport recently to evaluate support needed both during and post sport, qualitatively.

Researchers are investigating the immediate and short-term effects of augmented feedback on shoulder muscle strength and performance. This study focuses on how real-time quantitative feedback during isometric training affects peak force and rate of force development of the shoulder's internal and external rotator muscles. The trial includes healthy, physically active adults aged 18 to 30, aiming to enhance understanding of performance improvement strategies in shoulder training. Participants will complete two training sessions involving isometric strength exercises for the dominant shoulder rotator muscles. They will perform the exercises under two conditions in random order: with augmented feedback and without feedback. The augmented feedback provides immediate quantitative information on force and rate of force development after each contraction. Between sessions, a 5-7 day washout period is included. Warm-up, familiarization, testing, and training use a specialized isometric dynamometer to measure strength and rate of force development precisely. During each session, participants undergo a warm-up, familiarization with the testing device, and three strength tests before, immediately after, and 15 minutes after training to assess retention. The isometric training consists of three 5-second maximal contractions with rest periods. Measurements of peak force and rate of force development are recorded at each test. The study monitors performance changes and retention of strength gains, using standardized positions and verbal instructions to ensure consistent execution throughout the trial.

This research aims to study the effects of blood flow restrictive (BFR) exercises on upper body muscle strength and performance in male basketball players aged 18 to 25. BFR training uses controlled pressure to limit blood flow during exercise, which allows strength improvements with lower loads than traditional training. The study focuses on how this method affects muscle strength and performance in basketball players who regularly train and compete. Participants will be divided into two groups. One group will continue their usual basketball training while also completing a 90-minute BFR training program three times a week for three weeks. This program includes exercises like biceps curls, triceps curls, shoulder presses, and shoulder abductions performed at 30% of their maximum repetition with 60% arterial occlusion pressure. The other group will continue only their routine basketball training for the same period. During the study, researchers will assess muscle strength using bench press and hand grip strength tests at the start, after three weeks, and again at six weeks. They will also evaluate performance with sprint, agility, and free throw tests, along with fatigue levels after each BFR session. The study includes initial evaluations, and participants will be monitored closely throughout the training period. The total participation duration covers at least six weeks, with measurements taken at specific intervals to track changes.

Researchers are evaluating the use of bone stimulator therapy as an additional treatment for spondylolysis in athletes. This study aims to understand how bone stimulation may affect pain relief, functional improvement, bone healing, and the time it takes for athletes to return to sport. The study is sponsored by The Methodist Hospital Research Institute and focuses on a common but challenging condition affecting athletic populations. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives standard care, which includes wearing a back brace and following a physical therapy regimen. The other group receives this standard care plus a bone stimulator device to wear for at least 30 minutes daily while at rest, for 12 weeks. The device tracks usage to monitor compliance. There is no maximum daily usage time for the bone stimulator. Throughout the study, participants will be evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months. Researchers will measure the time it takes for participants to return to sport and assess bone healing. They will also monitor pain levels and how the condition affects daily life. The study duration and follow-up visits ensure thorough tracking of treatment effects and participant progress.

This research investigates whether a brief, structured team reflection program added to regular elite underwater rugby training can influence key psychosocial aspects such as team cohesion, psychological safety, peer trust, and team identification over six weeks. The study measures these factors at three points: before the program starts, halfway through, and at the end of the intervention. The program focuses on supporting social and psychological dynamics within the team environment. The intervention consists of 16 short reflection sessions embedded twice weekly immediately after regular training sessions over six weeks. These sessions include various components like checking in on internal states, recognizing specific contributions, reflecting on team functioning, reinforcing collective identity, and controlled vulnerability, all following a "share-only" rule to protect psychological safety. Facilitation is shared between staff and athlete leaders, with logs tracking attendance, session details, and adherence to the reflection rules. Participants continue their usual elite underwater rugby training throughout the study. Participants will complete validated questionnaires at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention to assess psychosocial outcomes. The study records training attendance and any injury or illness descriptively but does not collect objective sports performance data. The total study duration for each participant is six weeks, during which their participation in the reflection sessions and routine training is closely monitored to understand changes in team dynamics.